Water ski construction



Feb. 19, 1963 LU VERNE G. STEFFEL} 3,077,617

WATER SKI CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 26. 1961 Lu Verne 6- .SIeffe/ 1 N VEN TOR.

BY w mm United States Patent 3,077,617 WATER SKI CONSTRUCTION Lu Verne G. Stelfel, 3380 Texas Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Jan. 26, 1961, Ser. No. 85,036 4 Claims. (Cl. 9310) This invention relates to a novel and useful water ski construction and more particularly to a water ski construction which is specifically adapted to provide a cushioned ride so that the water skier will not be hampered greatly by rough water.

j, The water skis of the instant invention are provided with a plurality of depending cutwaters which are wedge shaped in cross section. The cutwaters are secured to the undersurface of the skis in any convenient manner and the Wedge shape of the cutwaters greatly reduces the pounding of the skis while traveling rapidly over rough water. By providing the skis with cutwatersla water skier is afforded a smoother and more stable ride and as a result the skier will not tire as quickly nor will he be as quickly placed off balance and fall into the ,water.

The cutwtaer may be constructed by an convenient material and may be secured to the undersurface ofa single slalom ski or a pair of conventional skis in any convenient manner. The manner in which the cutwaters are secured to the undersurfaces of skis will depend-in part upon the construction of the skis themselves.- In addition to being provided as an attachment for conventionaltypes of skis now being manufactured and conventional types of skis now in use, it is to be understood that the cutwaters may be formed as a part of a water ski during its manufacture. In addition, if the cutwaters are to be formed during the manufacture of the skis, they may be formed as a unitary part of the ski.

The main object of this invention is to provide an attachment for water skis which will afford the water skier a smoother and more stable ride.

A further object of this invention is to provide. an attachment for water skis which will cushion the passage of the water skis over a body of rough water.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a .water ski attachment which will greatly assist the water "skier in handling his water'skis and enable the water skier to perform more difficult maneuvers than he would A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a water ski which will conform to conven- :tional forms of manufacture; be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the water ski of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the Water ski of the instant invention;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the water ski;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

normally be able to perform with conventional types of 1 water skis.

ice

. 2 v FIGURE 6 is a modification of the water ski of the instant invention adapted to be used as a slalorri ski;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 77 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of FIGURE 6, and FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of ski. Referring now. more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the water ski of the instant invention. The water ski 10 includes a main body portion generally referred to by the reference nu.- rneral 12 which is substantially straight and terminates at its forward end in an upwardly curving toe. portion .14. The body. portion 12 is elongated and is provided with a substantially planarlower planing surface 15; The cutwater attachment of the instant "invention. 'includes an elongated central body-generally referred to by the reference numeral 16 and a pair of rear bodies generally designated by the reference numerals 18 and 20.

H The central body is elongated and extends longitudinally of the body portion 12 of the ski. Although the body 16 extends substantially the entire width of the body portion 12 of the ski 10 it is to be noted that it may terminate a spaced distance from the opposite side edges 22 and 24 of the body portion 12 of the ski 10. The central body 16 includes opposite side longitudinally extending upwardly and outwardly divergent sur faces 26 and 28'which define an obtuse included angle, each side being substantially straight between points spaced slightly from the endsof the body 16; The central body 16' also includes opposite end upwardly diver- "gent surfaces 30 and 32. The central body 16 may be conveniently secured to the lower planing surface 14 the construction of only one of the rear bodies 18. The body 18 is elongated and includes an upstanding outside side surface 34 which forms a continuation of thencorrespending portion of the side edge 24. The rearbody "18 includes a downwardly-and outwardly inclined lower surface 36-and a rear surface 38 forming a continuation .of the correspondingportion 'of the're'ar edge 40 of the ski 10. The rear body 18 is also secured to the ski 10 by means of suitable fasteners which are designated by the reference'numeral 42. Although the rear bodies 18 and 20 have been illustrated as termintaing at the rear surface 40 of the ski 10, it is to be-Inoted that they may terminate a spaced distance forwardly thereof and be tapered similar to the manner in which the forward ends of the bodies 18 and 20 are tapered. The forward ends of the bodies 18 and 20 are each provided with rearwardly and downwardly tapered surfaces 44 in order to provide an inclined surface to assist the ski 10 in planing as high as possible on the surface of a body of water over which it is passing.

It is to be noted that the rear end of the central body 16 terminates at or a spaced distance forwardly of a transverse plane defining the forward ends of the rear bodies 18 and 20. If it is desired however the rear end of the central body 16 may overlap or project rearwardly of the forward ends of the rear bodies 18 and 20.

With reference now to FIGURES 6-8 of the drawings there will be seen a modified form of ski generally designated by the reference numeral 50. The ski 50 is substantially identical with the ski 10 with the exception that tio'n asclaimed.

it is provided with side edges 22' and 24' which terminate in rear portions 23 and 25, respectively, that curve toward each other. The ski 50 is adapted for use as a slalom ski and is provided with a depending panel-like fin 52 which is secured to the lower surface of the ski 50 by means of fasteners 54. The rear bodies 20 and 22' of the ski 50 are not provided with rear surfaces'but the side surfaces 34 thereof form continuations of the curving rear portionsof the side edges 23 and 25 of the ski 50.

g In operation, the curved forward or too portion 14 of the ski prevents the forward end of the ski from diving into the water and the cutwater or central body 16 presents a wedge to the water to reduce the pounding of the ski 10 in movement over the surface of the water. The water is parted by means of the central body 16 and flows around the rear end of the latter and between the rear bodies 18 and 20. The substantially vertical side surfaces 34 of the rear bodies 18 and 20 assist in preventing side slip of the ski 10' as do the oppositely inclined lower surfaces 36 thereof.

The oppositely inclined lower surfaces of the rear bodies form a tunnel and lessen the tendency of the ski 10 to side-slip in the water over which it is traveling. The cutwater formed by the central body 16 and the cutwate'rs formed by the rear bodies 18 and 20 present three transversely spaced cutwatcrs with one being disposed forwardmost and the remaining two being disposed on the rear end of the ski 10. The longitudinal spacing of the forward and rear cutwaters affords both the forward and rear ends of the ski a means by which to cushion its travel over the surface of a body of rough water. Additionally, a certain amount of turbulence is formed between the forward body 16 and the rear bodies 18 and 20 resulting in foamy water over which the rear portion of the ski 10 passes to further cushion the ride afforded thereby.

It is to be further noted that the cutwaters or bodies 16, 18 and 20 could each be constructed of sheet material and secured to the ski 10' along some of their peripheral edges in any convenient manner as illustrated in FIGURE 9 thereby definin hollow bodies. The body 16 could be sealed and made airtight to provide a buoyant member and the body 18 as well as the body 29' (not shown), see FIGURE 9, is provided with a suitable opening 60 in its rear end whereby water could enter the body when the skis are stationary and flow'outwardly therefrom during skiing operations. In this manner the forward end of the ski 10' could be made buoyant and temporary weight can be added to the rear end thereof.

. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the "exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the inven- What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a water ski adapted to be worn on the foot of a water skier and including a horizontally disposed, elongated and substantially planar lower planing surface, a cutwater attachment comprising an elongated central body having a substantially planar upper surface, means securing said elongated body to the forward portion of the planing surface of said ski with said body extending longitudinally of said ski and extending at least subtantially the entire width thereof, said attachment also including a pair of elongated rear bodies each having a substantially planar upper surface, means securing said rear bodies to opposite side rear marginal portions of said planing surface in positions spaced from said central body with said rear bodies extending longitudinally of said ski and laterally spaced from each other, said central body including adjacent opposite side longitudinally extending upwardly and outwardly divergent surfaces and opposite end upwardly divergent surfaces, said opposite side divergent snrfaces defining an obtuse included angle and each being substantially straight between points spaced slightly from the opposite ends thereof, said ski including upstanding side edges, said rear bodies including outside up standing side surfaces forming continuations of the correspon-din portions of said side edges, said rear bodies including downwardly and outwardly divergent lower surfaces terminating at their forward ends in forwardly and upwardly tapered surfaces.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said last men'- tioned lower surfaces are substantially planar and extend from the lower ends of said outside upstanding side surfaces to the adjacent side marginal edges of the upper surfaces of said rear bodies.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the rear portions of said side edges curve rearwardly toward each other, and a depending panel-like fin secured to the rear of said ski between said rear bodies. 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said forward body is buoyant and said rear bodies are hollow and are provided with water inlet and outlet means for enabling the entrance of water into said rear bodies when stationary and the discharge of water therefrom when the ski is in motion.

References Cited in the .file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A WATER SKI ADAPTED TO BE WORN ON THE FOOT OF A WATER SKIER AND INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, ELONGATED AND SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR LOWER PLANNING SURFACE, A CUTWATER ATTACHMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CENTRAL BODY HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR UPPER SURFACE, MEANS SECURING SAID ELONGATED BODY TO THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE PLANNING SURFACE OF SAID SKI WITH SAID BODY EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SKI AND EXTENDING AT LEAST SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE WIDTH THEREOF, SAID ATTACHMENT ALSO INCLUDING A PAIR OF ELONGATED REAR BODIES EACH HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR UPPER SURFACE, MEANS SECURING SAID REAR BODIES TO OPPOSITE SIDE REAR MARGINAL PORTIONS OF SAID PLANNING SURFACE IN POSITIONS SPACED FROM SAID CENTRAL BODY WITH SAID REAR BODIES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SKI AND LATERALLY SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, SAID CENTRAL BODY INCLUDING ADJACENT OPPOSITE SIDE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY DIVERGENT SURFACES AND OPPOSITE END UPWARDLY DIVERGENT SURFACES, SAID OPPOSITE SIDE DIVERGENT SURFACES DEFINING AN OBTUSE INCLUDED ANGLE AND EACH BEING SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT BETWEEN POINTS SPACED SLIGHTLY FROM THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, SAID SKI INCLUDING UPSTANDING SIDE EDGES, SAID REAR BODIES INCLUDING OUTSIDE UPSTANDING SIDE SURFACES FORMING CONTINUATIONS OF THE CORRESPONDING PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE EDGES, SAID REAR BODIES INCLUDING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY DIVERGENT LOWER SURFACES TERMINATING AT THEIR FORWARD ENDS IN FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY TAPERED SURFACES. 